On March 28, National Triglycerides Day shines a spotlight on one of the key factors to a healthy lifestyle.
The observance serves as a reminder to patients and practitioners to know about the hidden risks of triglycerides. Learn your numbers and take steps to bring them to healthy levels.
High levels of triglycerides in your blood can be a risk factor for heart disease. Triglycerides are different from cholesterol, though they are both a type of lipid or fat stored in your blood. They serve different purposes. While triglycerides store unused calories and give the body energy, cholesterol builds cells and some hormones.
Monitoring triglycerides is important for heart health. A blood test will tell you if your triglycerides are within normal limits. If they’re not, high triglycerides can be a sign of other conditions such as:
- Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
- Metabolic syndrome (cholesterol, weight and blood sugar are all a factor)
- Hypothyroidism
- rare genetic conditions